Coloradan taking part in standoff
By Lisa Levitt Ryckman, Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
May 9, 2002

Holed up in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem are militants, monks, cops -- and one Coloradan.

"I feel safe within this dangerous environment because I think what I'm doing is right," said Larry Hales, 25, in a phone interview on Wednesday. "Whatever happens was meant to happen."

The Denver resident is part of the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace, which advocates nonviolent solutions to conflicts in the Middle East. Its goals include ending U.S. support for Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories.

Hales and three other Coloradans -- Marilyn Robinson, Brian Wood and Ida Audeh -- have been traveling in the region and sending home reports of their experiences.

"I wanted to come over and do what I can to help the situation," said Hales, who arrived in the Middle East on April 26.

Hales slipped past Israelis into the church last week in a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.

"People always ask me about suicide bombers and how I feel about that," Hales said. "That's wrong. But for an entire city of people to suffer because of it is absolutely absurd. It doesn't make any sense."

Hales and the other international peace protesters inside the church consider themselves insurance against an Israeli attack. But violence continues around them.

"One man was shot since we've been here," Hales said. The victim, a father of 11, was hanging clothes in the church courtyard when he was killed by sniper fire, Hales said.

Hales said he plans to pursue a master's degree in creative writing in the fall and hopes to become a teacher. But for now, he must wait while the world watches.

"I hope to go home soon," Hales said. "I want to walk out with everybody else."


* Larry Hales is one of four members of the Colorado Campaign for Middle East Peace who have joined internationals in being in solidarity with Palestinians nonviolently trying to end Israel's illegal military occupation of Palestine. More on their trip at: www.ccmep.org/palestine.html
 
 

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